Refrigerating apparatus



April 24, 1928.

L. HELMER REFRIGERATI'NG APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1924 @IVZNTOR BY Z K I ATTORNZ Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES LOUIS HELMER, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

BEFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 27, 1924. Serial No. 716,141.

This invention relates to' a refrigerator, and particularly to a refrigerator adapted for household use, wherein the cooling is accomplished by the expansion of a liquid gas in cooling coils.

One object of the present invention is to provide an economical fluid-operated impelling m ans for the gas compressor, and in so .onstructing the refrigerator that the exhaust fluid from the impelling means will act to condense the compressed gas.

Vith this and other objects in view, as will appear as the description progresses, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a refrigerator constructed in accordance with my invention; and H Figure 2 is a section through the back of the refrigerator, showing the arrangement of the condenser coils and compressing apparatus.

Referring to the particular embodiment of the invention shown, which is chosen merely for the sake of illustrating the invention, and not with any intention of limiting the invention to the details thereof, the refrigerating casing 1 is provided with the usual food receiving chambers 2, and with a refrigerating coil 3. A gas condenserisarranged adjacent ill this coil 3, and preferably in the wall of the casing. This condenser maybe of any desirable type, but I have illustrated one which includes a series 4 of double tubes, wherein the gas passes through one set of tubes from a header 5 to a lower header 6, and wherein the cooling water passes through to the other set of tubes. The lower headerfi of the condenser is connected to the refrigerating coil 3 by a conduit 7. A conduit 8 connects the coil 3 to a rotary gas compressor 9, which latter is connected to the upper header 5 by a conduit 10. The numeral 16 represents the conventional expansion valve located in the conduit 7 leading from the condenser to the expansion coil 3.

It will be seen that the liquid gas passing from the lower header 6 through the conduit 7 and expansion valve 16 expands upon reaching the cooling coil 3, and the thus expanded gas-passes through the conduit 8 to the .rotary compressor 9, where it is compressed and from whichit is fed to the condenser tubes.

supply pipe 12, the rate of flow throu h wlnch may be controlled by a valve 13. T e

motor shaft 14 is connected to the rotor of the compressor 9.

This fluid-operated motor 11 is connected with the water tubes of the condenser, so that the fluid, after actuating the motor, is exhausted into the fluid receiving tubes of the condenser. From the lower ends of the water receiving tubes 4, an outlet 15 extends. It will thus be seen that as the expanded gas passes from the cooling coils 3 to the compressor 9, the actuation of this latter by the motor 11 will cause the compression. of the gas and its feeding into the gas receiving tubes of the condenser.

The passing of the exhaust fluid from the motor 11 acts as a cooling agent for the thus compressed gas, and effects liquefaction of the gas in the condenser, so that when the gas reaches the lower header 6 it is in a liquid state, and ready to again be fed: through the conduit 7 to the cooling coils 3. As best shown in Figure2, the condenser is located in the back wall of the refrigerator and substantially covers the entire area thereof so that the maximum surface of the condenser is exposed to the cooling action of the exhaust from the motor and, at the same time, a minimum amount of space is taken up thereby.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a refrigerating system which depends upon the expansion of liquid gas and one wherein the cycle of expansion and liquefaction is effected with the greatest possible economy. This economy is effected by using the same fluid which actuates the gas compressing unit as a cool mg or condensing medlum for the gas after it is compressed, and by exhausting the fluid from the actuating motor to the cooling tubes by gravity.

ment and construction of theapparatus is such that it may be connected-directly to the usual water supply from a tank or a city system, and will operate at the pressures It will further be seen that the arrange- I usually encountered in such systems. How- 1 m pressor and fluid actuated motor therefor located above the condenser in a compartment of the refrigerator, and means connecting the exhaust of said fluid actuated motor to the condenser whereby the exhaust fluid acts to liquefy the condensed gas.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to'this specification this 19th day of May, 1924.

LOUIS HELM'ER. 

